After a period of Centering, the Prayer provides a space in consciousness that allows the outflow of a lifetime of manifestations of the "false self". Thomas Keating writes expertly on this topic and I highly recommend reading Chapter 8 "The Psychology of Centering Prayer" in his book Intimacy with God.
It ends, gives us pause and security on what Fr. Thomas Keating calls a plateau; and then begins again until we are free of the grip of the false self.
The following links are to short videos of Father Keating discussing the processes of the Dark Night.
A close friend reminded me that the Serenity Prayer when practiced is one of the most powerful responses we have to negativity.
God Grant me the Serenity To Accept the Things I Cannot Change The Courage to Change the Things I Can And the Wisdom to Know the Difference
I have found the following chart from Dr. David Burn's book Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy very helpful. It helps identify the types of misrepresentations that can occur during the Dark Night and can be symptoms and solutions for depressive thinking.
In the above essay, Gerald May is quoted on discerning the difference between depression and the Dark Night. From: Care of Mind/Care of Spirit, Gerald May, p.84
a. "Depression usually involves a loss of effectiveness in life or work, whereas this is not
generally true of dark nights, where the person may be surprised at how well they
continue to operate.
b. Dark nights do not usually lead to a loss of sense of humour, whereas in depression,
humour may lost or become cynical or bitter.
c. After a dark night experience, compassion for others tends to grow. Contrast this
with the self-absorption of depression.
d. In the dark night, there is, despite everything, an underlying sense that one is on the
right path. Depression, by contrast, often involves a feeling that things are wrong,
and there may be a desire for them to change.
e. While passing through a dark night awareness, people may look for an explanation or
evaluation of what is happening, but there is not the sense of pleading for help that
goes with significant depression.
f. When working with a depressed person, it is common to have feelings of frustration,
annoyance or resentment, whereas feelings of grace and consolation are more likely
when with someone going through a dark night. One directee said this: “The way to
go seems scary and invisible to me. I feel so inadequate, and yet I feel a blanket of
grace around me.”
It ends, gives us pause and security on what Fr. Thomas Keating calls a plateau; and then begins again until we are free of the grip of the false self.
The following links are to short videos of Father Keating discussing the processes of the Dark Night.
//Contemplative Outreach//: The //Dark Nights//, Pt. 1
www.contemplativeoutreach.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle...//Contemplative Outreach//: The //Dark Nights//, Pt. 2
www.contemplativeoutreach.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle... -
//Contemplative Outreach//: The //Dark Nights//, Pt. 3
www.contemplativeoutreach.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle...
Rumi has a nice take on this: http://www.panhala.net/Archive/The_Guest_House.html
A close friend reminded me that the Serenity Prayer when practiced is one of the most powerful responses we have to negativity.
God Grant me the Serenity
To Accept the Things I Cannot Change
The Courage to Change the Things I Can
And the Wisdom to Know the Difference
I have found the following chart from Dr. David Burn's book Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy very helpful. It helps identify the types of misrepresentations that can occur during the Dark Night and can be symptoms and solutions for depressive thinking.
Here is a link to a paper on the Dark Night and Depression:
http://www.sgm.org.nz/Research%20Papers/Dark%20Night%20&%20Depression/Dark%20Night%20&%20Depression%20%20Essay.pdf
In the above essay, Gerald May is quoted on discerning the difference between depression and the Dark Night. From: Care of Mind/Care of Spirit, Gerald May, p.84
a. "Depression usually involves a loss of effectiveness in life or work, whereas this is not
generally true of dark nights, where the person may be surprised at how well they
continue to operate.
b. Dark nights do not usually lead to a loss of sense of humour, whereas in depression,
humour may lost or become cynical or bitter.
c. After a dark night experience, compassion for others tends to grow. Contrast this
with the self-absorption of depression.
d. In the dark night, there is, despite everything, an underlying sense that one is on the
right path. Depression, by contrast, often involves a feeling that things are wrong,
and there may be a desire for them to change.
e. While passing through a dark night awareness, people may look for an explanation or
evaluation of what is happening, but there is not the sense of pleading for help that
goes with significant depression.
f. When working with a depressed person, it is common to have feelings of frustration,
annoyance or resentment, whereas feelings of grace and consolation are more likely
when with someone going through a dark night. One directee said this: “The way to
go seems scary and invisible to me. I feel so inadequate, and yet I feel a blanket of
grace around me.”